Protecting device for the heels of shoes



Nov. 29,1949 Y H. FAYBERT 2,489,368

PRQTECTING DEVICE FOR THE HEELS 0F SHOES Filed Jan. 22, 1949 Patented Nov. 29, 1949 OFFICE PROTECTING nnvlonro'n THE HEELS F SHOES Herbert ray'tei t, mag, in; ApplicationJanum '22, 1949-,seria1 No. 7.2;103

1 claim. (01.3640) This inventionrelates to a shoe trim er pro tecting device for the heel of a shoe, and more particularly to a flexible strap removably attached at its free ends to the upper edge portion of the outside of the upstanding heel wall of childrens shoes to prevent scufling of the leather of said upper edge portion of theheel wall of the shoe.

As is well known children are hard on shoes due to their vigorous play, and oftentimes scuif and mar the outside leather of their shoes including the heel portion. The device of the present invention, when applied, one to each of the shoes of a child, receives much of the scuffing action against the heel wall of the shoes, and when it itself becomes too badly scuffed it, or both of them on a pair of shoes, can be quickly and easily removed by unsnapping the ends from the shoe, and leave the upper edge portion of the heel wall of the shoe in unscuffed and pleasing appearance. 'Io lessen the amount of scufling occurring on the outer surface of the present shoe trim it is provided at the rear middle portion with a rearwardly extending flexible projection which first contacts with objects against which the back of the shoe strikes, and bends over to one side or the other, and thus protects the exterior surface of the shoe trim straps as well as much of the adjacent exposed heel wall of the shoe against being scratched and unsightly marred. When one pair of these trims becomes worn out or unsightly scratched, they can be removed and thrown away and a new pair easily and quickly applied.

Also by making the shoe trims of the present invention to simulate in appearance a pair of western spurs the child will be more pleased to wear them and thus have an incentive to lessen the danger of scuffing the heel walls of the shoes. Even if the child attempts to use them as spurs, the rearwardly extending flexible projection will take the blow and protect the shoes as explained above.

Among the objects of the present invention are: to provide a novel and improved protecting device for the heel of a shoe; to provide a shoe trim for greatly lessening the danger of a child scufling the exterior of the heel walls of his or her shoes; to provide a flexible shoe protecting device easily and quickly applied to and removed from a shoe when desired; to provide a flexible shoe protecting device having a flexible rearwardly extending projection which when struck will bend to one side or the other to further prevent scufiing of the shoe heel wall; to provide a shoe trim, for children's shoes, that is ornamental and will appeal to the tages and capabilities, inherently possessedby the.

invention, as will later more fully appear.

1 My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, and while there is shown thereina preferred embodiment I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modificationand change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the; drawing: ,v g v Y v Fig. 1 is. a perspective view of a shoe protecting device embodying my inyention, and showing the same appliedtoashoe, the shoe being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the shoe trim detached from the shoe just before being applied thereto.

In the form of my invention shown in the drawing for illustrative purposes only, the shoe trim is made of flexible and ornamental leather and comprises two leg members I and 2 integrally connected together at 3 so that the two leg members are of equal length. Extending forwardly from the fold 3 a short distance, the rear ends 4 and 5 of the leg members i and 2 are in normal back to back contact and are secured together by any desired number of stitches 6 or other suitable fastening means. On the outside face of each of the forward end portions 1 and 8 of the leg members l and 2 is secured in any desired manner a stiffening element 9 which serves as a stiffening backing for the female portion 1 0 (one on the inner face of each of the leg member forward ends) of a snapfastener, the male portion or stud ll of which is secured in any desired manner one on each side of the heel portion of the shoe. In addition to forming a reinforcing backing for the female portion ll] of the snap fastener, the element 9 also serves as an ornament for the forward end of each of the leg members I and 2. A similar ornamental stiffenin member I2 is secured in any desired manner on the outer face of each of the rear end portions 4 and 5.

While snap fasteners have been shown for detachably securing the front ends of the leg members I and 2 to the heel portion of the shoe, it is to be understood that any other suitable fastening means may be used as desired. It is also to be noted that due to the flexibility of the leather from which the device is made, the projecting rear end made up of the portions 4 and 5 may be bent to one side or the other along the line of the stitches 6 to a limited extent. This tends to hold away from the heel surface, and away from the le members l and 2, any object striking the projecting rear end, and thus greatly minimizes the danger of scufling either the shoe heel portion or the leg members I and 2, even should the child attempt to use the device as a spur.

While only the outside face of the leg member I is shown in the drawing, due to the positions in which the views are taken, it is to be understood that the outside appearance of the leg member 2 is identical to that of leg member I, and the inside appearance of leg member' I is identical to that of leg member 2. words these two leg members are of identical construction. The device is stamped in a straight length from a sheet of leather or other suitable material and then folded midway of its length as at 3 after the stiffening members [2 and 9 and the female portions In of the fastening means have been applied. The stitches 6, or other suitable fastening means, are then applied and the device is ready to be applied to the shoe in which the studs II have been previously mounted to protrude outwardly to be available for snap reception of the complemental portions In the right hand side of Fig. 2 the leg member 2 is shown bent upwardly for clearness of understanding, but it will normally occupy the position shown in dotted lines in this view. 1

In other slip up or down. It is thus seen that this device may be easily and quickly applied to or removed from a shoe, and when desired an old one may be discarded and a new one applied, if desired.

It is also to be understood that while the invention is shown as applied to a low shoe, the heel wall may be of any desired height, and the invention is adaptable for use on boots as Well as high shoes and low shoes.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A shoe trim for protecting the heel of a shoe against scuffing, comprising, a single piece leather strap folded upon itself midway of its length, stitching extending laterally and securing the folded parts together a short distance forward of the fold, the portions of the strap forwardly of the stitching forming flexible legs each having on its inner face near its front end a fastening element adapted to be releasably secured to a complemental fastening element on the shoe, a stiffening element on the outer face of each leg opposite the first mentioned fastening element, and a stiffening element on the folded parts between the fold and the stitching.

HERBERT FAYBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 241,101 Watson May 3, 1881 2,454,228 Smith NOV. 16, 1948 

